Apparatus for handling rewind rolls

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to apparatus for handling rewind rolls during their buildup at the outer end of rewind arms on a rewind machine, thence for thence for pivoting the rewind arms and the rewind rolls to an unloading position convenience for removal.

United States Patent [191 Degelleke et al.

[ 51 May 22,1973

[54] APPARATUS FOR HANDLING REWIND ROLLS [75] Inventors: GerritDegelleke, Parsippany; Robert E. Bush, Morris Plains, both of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Midland-Ross Corporation, Cleveland,0hio

[22] Filed: Feb. 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 227,042

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.41,904, June 1,

1970, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. ..214/1 BD, 242/586, 242/65 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 19/30[58] Field of Search ..214/1 BD, 147 R;

IOZ

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,802,586 8/1957 Wingard..214/1 BD 2,991,953 7/1961 Moser ..242/58.6

Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-George F. AbrahamAttorney-Joseph M. Fitzpatrick et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT This invention relates to apparatus for handling rewindrolls during their buildup at the outer end of rewind arms on a rewindmachine, thence for thence for pivoting the rewind arms and the rewindrolls toan unloading position convenience for removal.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented May 22, 1973 3 Shoots-Sheet 1Patented May 22, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 22, 1973 3Sheets-Sheet 1'.

00w EN L NQN v w N N 8w I NNN APPARATUS FOR HANDLING REWIND ROLLS Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser.No. 41,904, entitled Apparatus for Handling Rewind Rolls, filed June 1,1970 now abandoned.

This invention relates to rewind machines and more particularly toimprovements in means for handling rewind rolls.

In essence, rewind machines are utilized for receiving relatively widemill or supply rolls, unwinding same and slitting or cutting themlongitudinally into strips or subwebs of material. Thence, the webs areeach rewound on individual cores forming separate rewind rolls, andthereafter the completed rewind roll is removed from the machine. I

While heretofore many different types of apparatus have been used forhandling rewind rolls with reasonable success, our contribution to theart is a new apparatus which is an improvement over such prior artapparatus, as the description proceeds.

Assignees own U.S. Pat. No. 3,291,412 issued Dec.,

13, 1966 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,258,136 issued June 28, 1966 are herebymade of record. These patents have to do with rewind machines and withroll handling apparatus therefor. While the foregoing apparatus washighly successful, the present application concerns improvements uponthe features thereof.

In the handling of rewind rolls after completion of the rewindingoperation, it is desirable to consistently remove a completed rewindroll without injuring or damaging the material rewound thereon. It islikewise desirable to remove a completed rewind roll by means which aresafe for the operating personnel. It is also desirable to use apparatuswhich may be easily employed with existing types of rewind machineswithout greatly altering the present construction thereof. Applicantshave found that it is desirable to accurately pivot the rewind rollsduring the rewinding operation upwardly and outwardly from the center ofthe machine, and upon completion of the rewinding operation to continueto pivot the rewind rolls outwardly and downwardly from the center ofthe machine to a waiting truck. It is the purpose of this invention toprovide apparatus comprising the above desired structural and operativefeatures.

In order to accomplish the desired results we provide new and improvedapparatus for handling rewind rolls characterized by a frame, a frontsection and a rear section. Each of these sections has a rewind armsupporting shaft carried by the frame, and at least one pair of rewindarms mounted on the rewind arm supporting shaft. Rewind rolls are formedat the outer ends of the rewind arms. A first fluid piston and cylinderassembly is connected to the rewind arm supporting shaft for controllingthe angle of inclination of the rewind arms through a first portion oftheir arcuate stroke, and a second fluid piston and cylinder assembly isconnected to the rewind arm supporting shaft for controlling the angleof inclination of the rewind arms through a second portion of theirarcuate stroke.

According to one aspect of the invention, the second fluid piston andcylinder assembly moves the rewind rolls to their unloading positionwherein the rewind arm extends substantially horizontally outwardly withrespect to the center of the machine. As another aspect of theinvention, a waiting truck is positionable under the rewind rolls whenin their unloading position to carry the rolls away along a roadwaydisposed perpendicular to the center line of the machine.

There has thus been outlined rather broadly the more important featuresof the invention in order that the detailed description thereof thatfollows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafterwhich will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilledin the art will appreciate that the conception on which this disclosureis based may readily be utilized as the basis for the designing of otherstructures for carrying out the several purposes of the invention. It isimportant, therefore, that this disclosure be regarded as including suchequivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

One embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawingforming a part of the specification, wherein:

' FIG. 1 is an end elevation of a rewind machine and apparatus forhandling rewind rolls constructed in accordance with the concept of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end elevation of the mechanism for controlling theposition of the rewind arms;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line indicated at3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the hydraulic and electrical controlcircuitry for controlling the position of the rewind arms.

In FIG. 1 of the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a rewindmachine comprises a frame 10, a front section, indicated generally at12, and a rear section, indicated generally at 14. A relatively wide webof sheet material 16 is fed from a mill or supply roll 18 which ismounted for rotation on a shaft 20 which, in turn, is mounted on supportframe 22. The web 16 passes partially around guide roll 24, edge guide26 being provided for purposes of aligning the side edges of the web.Thence, the web passes partially around guide rolls 28 and 30, fromwhence it passes to a tension roll 32 for purposes of controlling thelinear tension of the web 16. Thereafter, the web passes partiallyaround a driven pull or feed roll to a spreader roll 36, which isprovided for the purpose of transversely opening or spreading the web'16. The web then passes partially around two driven feed rolls 38 and40. Suitable means are provided to cut the web 16 into a plurality ofelongated longitudinal strips or sub-webs 42 and 44. In the presentembodiment of the invention, this is accomplished by means of aplurality of slitters or cutters 46 positioned adjacent a driven backuproll 48. Alternatively, score cuts, shear cuts or razor cuts may beemployed, as desired. Also, the cutters may be adjusted for differentsub-web width, as desired. The sub-webs 42 and 44 then pass partiallyaround a driven main pull roll 50, from which adjacent strips of webpass alternately to tracking rolls 52 and 54, and thence to rewind rolls56 which are formed on rewind cores 58 and rewind rolls 60 which areformed on rewind cores 62.

The front section 12 and the rear section 14 of the rewind machine areof similar construction and operate in a similar manner. Each rewindroll 56 is rotatably mounted on a pair of rewind arms 64. The inner endsof the rewind arms 64 are carried and secured to a rewind arm supportshaft 66 which is pivotally mounted on the frame for selectivelycontrolling the angle of inclination of the rewind arms, as desired. Itwill be appreciated that the rewind arms may be longitudinallyadjustably positioned along the rewind arm support shaft 66 toaccommodate rewind rolls of various widths. In like manner, each rewindroll 60 is rotatably mounted on a pair of rewind arms 68, and the innerends thereof are fixedly mounted on a rewind arm support shaft 70 whichis pivotally mounted on the frame 10 for selectively controlling theangle of inclination of the rewind arms. The rewind arms arelongitudinally adjustably positionable along the rewind support shaft70, depending upon the width of the rewind rolls.

A bracket, indicated generally at 72, is fixedly mounted on the rewindarm support shaft 66. This bracket has a first arm 74 and a second arm76 disposed at an angle of the order of about 120 degrees with respectto the first arm. A front rewind roll counterbalance fluid piston andcylinder assembly 78 is pivotally connected to a bracket 80 which ismounted on a frame 10, and a piston rod 82 extends from the other endthereof and is pivotally attached to the end of the first arm 74, as at84. A front rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly 86is pivotally connected to a bracket 88 which is mounted on the frame 10,and a piston rod 90 extends from the other end thereof and is pivotallyattached to the end of the second arm 76, as at 92. Suitable controlmeans are provided to control the rewind roll 56 for pivotingcounterclockwise, as viewed in the drawing, during buildup thereof underthe control of the piston and cylinder assembly 78, and upon completionof the rewind rolls to pivot it upwardly and outwardly from the centerof the machine to its unloading position as indicated by the brokenlines in the drawings under the control of the piston and cylinderassembly 86. In this position the rewind arm 64 extends substantiallyhorizontally outwardly with respect to the center of the machine. Theprecise position of the rewind arms when changing over from one pistonand cylinder assembly to the other piston and cylinder assembly may beselected, as desired. However, it should be so selected that when onepiston is passing over its dead center position, control is beingmaintained by the other piston and cylinder assembly. Thereafter, therewind rolls 56 are loaded onto a waiting truck 102, which is drivenaway on a roadway 104 disposed in perpendicular relationship to themachine.

The tracking roll 52 is supported by a tracking arm 140, FIG. 1, whichis centrally pivotally mounted on a frame 142 that is adjustably mountedon slideway 144 for purposes of aligning each individual tracking rollwith respect to its corresponding rewind roll. It will be appreciatedthat the slideway extends the entire width of the machine, and aplurality of tracking roll assemblies are mounted thereon, one beingprovided for each rewind roll. The end of the arm 140 is pinned toconnecting links 146, FIGS. 2 and 3, as by means of pin 148 and theconnecting links are interconnected by a shaft 150. A universal joint152 connects shaft 150 to a piston 154 extending from a fluid cylinder156, which is fixedly mounted with respect to the shaft 150 and thetracking arm 140. Control of the fluid in the cylinder 156 controls thenip pressure between the tracking roll and the rewind roll.

It will be noted that the arcuate travel of the tracking rolls isrelatively short compared to the arcuate travel required by the rewindroll as it builds up from an initial relatively small diameter to arelatively large diameter towards the end of the rewinding operationand, therefore, the rewind arms are adapted to advance outwardly awayfrom the lay-on roll in successive steps or increments. This is effectedby means of the fluid cylinder 78. As seen in FIG. 2, the universaljoint 152 is provided with a surface 158 which is adapted to contactfinger 160 depending from a tray 162, the tray 162 being fixedly mountedon shaft 164. The shaft 164 extends the entire width of the machine andis mounted for pivotal movement on the sides thereof. A plurality offingers 160 extend from the tray 162, one being provided for each rewindroll. The first finger to be contacted by its respective tracking rollassembly actuates the finger and, thereby, rotates the shaft 164. A hub166 is mounted on shaft 164 and is provided with a projecting member 168for actuating a switch mechanism 170 to prevent overtravel of the shaft164. The projecting member 168 controls the switch mechanism 170 whichstops the entire rewind machine and, thereby, prevents hazardousbreakage. A micro-torque rotary fluid valve 172 is mounted on the frameof the machine and interconnecting linkage 174 operatively connects thehub 166 to the fluid valve 172 so that in operation, an angular movementof the shaft 164 provides a corresponding movement of the valve 172. Asbest seen in FIG. 4, valve 172 is part of a fluid system for angularlycontrolling the position of the rewind arms.

Referring to FIG. 4, the fluid control system is shown as including areservoir 176 from which hydraulic fluid is pumped by a pump 178 intothe system, the pressure in the system being observed by a gaugeassembly 182 provided for the purpose. A first two-way solenoidcontrolled hydraulic valve 184 is positionable between a firstnon-operative position 186, wherein the input line 188 is blocked andthe output line is connected to a drain 190, and an operative position192 wherein the input line 188 receives hydraulic fluid under pressurefrom a main supply line 194, connected to the pump 178, and passes it toan output line 196 containing a pressure regulating valve 198 formaintaining it at a preselected constant value. The output line leadsthrough a check valve 200 to the micro-torque rotary fluid valve 172. Inoperation, when the rewind roll 56, FIG. 1, is slowly building up, thesolenoid valve 184 is switched to its operative position 192 to supplyfluid to the valve 172 which, in turn, is periodically switched to itsopen position by the linkage 174 in the manner described hereinbefore.When in its open position, the valve 172 passes hydraulic fluid throughline 202 and check valve 204 to the counterbalance cylinder assembly 78,as at 206, to retract the piston rod 82 and, thereby, raise the rewindarms 64 and rewind roll 56 to accommodate the material being addedthereto. A drain line 208 extends from the other end 210 of the cylinderassembly through the valve 172 to a drain provided for the purpose. Whenthe valve 172 is in its nonoperative position, flow of fluid isprevented in the drain line by a stop 212, and back-flow in line 202 isprevented by the check valve 204, thereby retaining the piston rod 82 ina fixed position. At the same time a second two-way solenoid controlledhydraulic valve 214 is switched to its operative or float position 216wherein hydraulic fluid from line 218 connected to the unloadingcylinder assembly 86 at 220, and fluid from line 222 connected to theunloading cylinder assembly 86 at 224 are both directed to a drain 226.This provides a dampening action during buildup of the rewind roll.

When the rewind arms 64 reach their vertical positions and the rewindroll is complete, the rewind arms actuate a switch 228, FIG. 1, whichtransmits a signal through control line 230 to a solenoid controlswitching circuit 232. This circuit switches the first solenoidcontrolled hydraulic valve 184 to its non-operative position 186,thereby preventing additional flow of fluid to the counterbalancecylinder assembly 78, and switches the second solenoid controlled valve214 to its inoperative position 234 wherein no fluid passestherethrough. At the same time, the solenoid control switching circuitswitches a third three-way solenoid controlled valve 236 from itsnon-operative position 238, wherein no fluid flow passes therethrough,to its first operative position 240 wherein fluid under pressure passesfrom the supply line 194 through line 222 to the unloading cylinderassembly 86 at 224 to extend the piston rod 90 and,

thereby, rotate the rewind roll from its vertical to its horizontalposition, adjacent the waiting truck 102, while the line 218 isconnected to a drain 242. Also, at the same time, the solenoid controlswitching circuit switches a fourth two-way controlled valve 244 fromits inoperative position 246, wherein no fluid passes therethrough, toits operative or float position 248 wherein hydraulic fluid from line250 connected to the counterbalance piston and cylinder assembly 78through line 252 and the line 202, as well as hydraulic fluid from line254 connected to the counterbalance piston and cylinder assembly 78through line 256 and the line 208 are both directed to a drain 258. Thisprovides a dampening action during movement of the rewind roll towardsits unloading position.

Just before the rewind arms reach their final unloading positions,indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 1, the rewind arms actuate aswitch 260 which transmits a signal through control line 262 to thesolenoid control switching circuit 232, FIG. 4. This circuit thenswitches the third solenoid controlled valve 236 from its firstoperating position 240 to its non-operative position 238 wherein nofluid flow passes therethrough, and at the same time the fourth solenoidcontrolled valve 244 is switched from its operative position 248 to itsinoperative position 246, wherein no fluid passes therethrough. Thisswitching procedure terminates the power input into the rewind arms andallows the rewind roll 56 to coast to its final unloading position, asindicated by the broken lines in FIG. 1.

After the completed rewind roll has been unloaded and the operator isready to start a new cycle of operation, the operator manually operatesa switch in the solenoid control switching circuit 232 which switchesthe third solenoid controlled valve 236 from its nonoperative position238 to its second operative position 264 wherein fluid under pressurepasses from the supply line 194 through line 218 to the unloadingcylinder and piston assembly 86 at 220 to retract the piston rod 90 and,thereby, rotate the rewind roll from its horizontal unloading positionto its vertical position. At the same time, the fourth solenoidcontrolled valve 236 is moved from its inoperative position 246 to itsoperative position 248 to provide a dampening effect. When the rewindarms 64 reach their vertical positions, they actuate the switch 228which, in turn, actuates the solenoid control switching circuit 232 toswitch the fourth solenoid controlled valve 236 from its secondoperative position 264 to its non-operative position 238 and at the sametime the second solenoid controlled valve 214 is switched from itsnon-operative position 234 to its operative or float position 216. Also,at the same time the solenoid control switch circuit 232 switches afifth three-way solenoid controlled valve 266 from its inoperativeposition 268 wherein no flow passes therethrough to its first operativeposition 270 wherein fluid under pressure from the supply line 194passes therethrough to the line 256, and thence through the line 208 toenter the counterbalance piston and cylinder as sembly 78 at 210,thereby extending the piston 82 and causing the rewind arm to rotatefrom its vertical position to its position as indicated by the solidlines in FIG. 1.

When the rewind arms 64 reach their positions, as indicated by the solidlines in FIG. 1, they actuate a switch 272 which transmits a signalthrough control line 274 to the solenoid control switching circuit 232which switches the fifth three-way solenoid controlled valve 266 fromits first operative position 270 to its inoperative position 268, whileat the same time it switches the second solenoid controlled valve 214 toits operative position 216 to its inoperative position 234. The rewindarms 64 rest in this position until the operator is ready to startanother rewind operation, and at that time he manually actuates thesolenoid control switching circuit 232 to switch the first solenoidcontrolled valve 184 from its inoperative position 188 to its operativeposition 192, while at the same time the second solenoid controlledvalve 214 is switched from its inoperative position 234 to its operativeposition 216. The cycle is then repeated in the same manner as describedhereinbefore.

In order to prevent back-flow in the lines 218, 222, 256 and 252, checkvalves 276, 278, 280 and 282, respectively, are mounted therein. On someoccasions it may be desirable for the operator to manually raise therewind arms 64 from their positions as shown by the solid lines of FIG.1 to their vertical positions. For this purpose the fifth solenoidcontrolled valve is provided with a second operative position 284wherein hydraulic fluid under pressure passes from the main supply line194 through lines 252 and 202 to the counterbalance cylinder assembly 78at 206 to, thereby, retrack piston rod 82 and raise the rewind arms 64.

In like manner the rear section 14 of the machine is provided with abracket 106 having a first arm 108 and a second arm 110. A rear rewindroll counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly 112 is pivotallyconnected to a bracket 114 which is mounted on the frame 10, and apiston rod 116 extends therefrom and is pivotally attached to the end ofthe first arm 108, as at 118. A rear rewind roll unloading fluid pistonand cylinder assembly 120 is pivotally connected to the bracket 88, anda piston rod 122 extends therefrom and is pivotally attached to thesecond arm 110, as at 124. The control means for the rear sectionoperate in the same manner as that described hereinbefore in connectionwith the front section so that upon completion of the rewind roll, itpivots upwardly and outwardly from the center of the machine to itsunloading position, as indicated by the broken lines in the drawing,under the control of the piston and cylinder assembly 120. In thisposition the rewind arms 68 extend substantially horizontally outwardlywith respect to the center of the machine. Thereafter the rewind rolls60 are loaded onto a waiting truck 134 which is driven away on a roadway136, provided for the purpose.

It will thus be seen that the present invention does indeed provide animproved apparatus for handling rewind rolls which is superior insimplicity, economy and efficiency as compared to prior art suchdevices.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention is herein disclosedfor purposes of explanation, various modifications thereof, after studyof this specification, will be apparent to those skilled in the art towhich the invention pertains.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for handling rewind rolls comprising a frame, a frontsection and a rear section, each of said sections having a rewind armsupport shaft carried by said frame, at least one pair of rewind armsmounted on said rewind arm support shaft, each rewind arm being mountedon said shaft at its inner end, means carried by each pair of saidrewind arms at their outer ends for receiving a strip of sheet materialto be wound into a rewind roll, a bracket fixedly mounted on said rewindarm support shaft, said bracket having a first arm and a second arm, arewind roll counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly having oneend mounted on said frame, a piston rod extending from the other end ofsaid fluid piston and cylinder assembly and being pivotally attached tosaid first arm, a rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinderassembly having one end mounted on said frame, a piston rod extendingfrom the other end of said rewind roll unloading fluid piston andcylinder assembly, and being pivotally attached to said second arm,control means including solenoid operated fluid value means operativelyconnected to said rewind arms, said rewind roll counterbalance fluidpiston and cylinder assembly and said rewind roll unloading fluid pistonand cylinder assembly to control the rewind roll for pivoting duringbuildup under the control of said rewind rolls counterbalance fluidpiston and cylinder assembly and thence to their unloading positionsunder the control of said rewind roll unloading fluid piston andcylinder assembly.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means includesfirst solenoid controlled fluid valve means for controlling the flow offluid to said counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assemblyresponsive to a first range of positions of said rewind arms, and secondsolenoid controlled fluid valve means for controlling the flow of fluidto said unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly responsive to asecond range of positions of said rewind arms.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said con trol means includes afirst solenoid controlled fluid valve for controlling a flow of fluid toretract said counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly to raisesaid pair of rewind arms towards a substantially vertical positionduring buildup of said rewind rolls, and a second solenoid controlledfluid control valve for controlling the flow of fluid to extend saidunloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly to move said pair of rewindarms outwardly to a substantially horizontally unloading position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means forincrementally supplying fluid to said rewind roll counterbalance fluidpiston and cylinder assembly during buildup, and wherein said controlmeans comprises a first solenoid controlled fluid valve for controllingthe flow of fluid to said means for incrementally supplying fluid, and asecond solenoid controlled fluid valve for selectively controlling theflow of fluid to said unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means forincrementally supplying fluid to said rewind roll counterbalance fluidpiston and cylinder assembly during buildup, and wherein said controlmeans comprises a first solenoid controlled fluid valve for controllingthe flow of fluid to said means for incrementally supplying fluid, asecond solenoid controlled fluid valve for connecting both sides of thepiston of said unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly to a drainduring buildup, a third solenoid controlled fluid valve for controllingthe flow of fluid to said unloading fluid piston and cylinder assemblyfor moving said pair of rewind arms to their unloading positions, afourth solenoid controlled fluid valve for connecting both sides of thepiston of said counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly to adrain during movement of said rewind arms to their unloading positions,a fifth solenoid controlled fluid valve to control the flow of fluid tosaid counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly for returningsaid counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly to its originalposition.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second arm is disposed atan angle of about 120 with respect to said first arm of said bracketmounted on said rewind arm support shaft.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rewind rolls moveupwardly and outwardly with respect to the rewind machine during buildupof the rewind rolls, and wherein the rewind arms are substantiallyhorizontally outwardly disposed with respect to the rewind machine whensaid rewind rolls are in their unloading position.

8. Apparatus for handling rewind rolls comprising a frame, a frontsection and a rear section, each of said sections having a rewind armsupport shaft carried by said frame, at least one pair of rewind armsmounted on said rewind arm support shaft, each rewind arm being mountedon said shaft at its inner end, means carried by each pair of saidrewind arms at their outer ends for receiving a strip of sheet materialto be wound into a rewind roll, a bracket fixedly mounted on said rewindarm support shaft, said bracket having a first arm and a second armdisposed at an angle of about 120 with respect to said first arm, arewind roll counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly having oneend mounted on said frame, a piston rod extending from the other end ofsaid fluid piston and cylinder assembly and being pivotally attached tosaid first arm, a rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinderassembly having one end mounted on said frame, a piston rod extendingfrom the other end of said rewind roll unloading fluid piston andcylinder assembly, and being pivotally attached to said second arm,control means including solenoid operated fluid valve means operativelyconnected to said rewind arms, said rewind roll counterbalance fluidpiston and cylinder assembly and said rewind roll unloading fluid pistonand cylinder assembly to control the rewind roll for pivoting duringbuildup under the control of said rewind roll counterbalance fluidpiston and cylinder assembly and thence to their unloading positionswherein the rewind arms extend substantially horizontally outwardly withrespect to the center of the machine under the control of said rewindroll unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly, a waiting truckpositionable adjacent the rewind rolls unloading positions, said truckbeing drivable on a roadway disposed perpendicular to the machine.

1. Apparatus for handling rewind rolls comprising a frame, a frontsection and a rear section, each of said sections having a rewind armsupport shaft carried by said frame, at least one pair of rewind armsmounted on said rewind arm support shaft, each rewind arm being mountedon said shaft at its inner end, means carried by each pair of saidrewind arms at their outer ends for receiving a strip of sheet materialto be wound into a rewind roll, a bracket fixedly mounted on said rewindarm support shaft, said bracket having a first arm and a second arm, arewind roll counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly having oneend mounted on said frame, a piston rod extending from the other end ofsaid fluid piston and cylinder assembly and being pivotally attached tosaid first arm, a rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinderassembly having one end mounted on said frame, a piston rod extendingfrom the other end of said rewind roll unloading fluid piston andcylinder assembly, and being pivotally attached to said second arm,control means including solenoid operated fluid value means operativelyconnected to said rewind arms, said rewind roll counterbalance fluidpiston and cylinder assembly and said rewind roll unloading fluid pistonand cylinder assembly to control the rewind rolL for pivoting duringbuildup under the control of said rewind rolls counterbalance fluidpiston and cylinder assembly and thence to their unloading positionsunder the control of said rewind roll unloading fluid piston andcylinder assembly.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidcontrol means includes first solenoid controlled fluid valve means forcontrolling the flow of fluid to said counterbalance fluid piston andcylinder assembly responsive to a first range of positions of saidrewind arms, and second solenoid controlled fluid valve means forcontrolling the flow of fluid to said unloading fluid piston andcylinder assembly responsive to a second range of positions of saidrewind arms.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said controlmeans includes a first solenoid controlled fluid valve for controlling aflow of fluid to retract said counterbalance fluid piston and cylinderassembly to raise said pair of rewind arms towards a substantiallyvertical position during buildup of said rewind rolls, and a secondsolenoid controlled fluid control valve for controlling the flow offluid to extend said unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly tomove said pair of rewind arms outwardly to a substantially horizontallyunloading position.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprisingmeans for incrementally supplying fluid to said rewind rollcounterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly during buildup, andwherein said control means comprises a first solenoid controlled fluidvalve for controlling the flow of fluid to said means for incrementallysupplying fluid, and a second solenoid controlled fluid valve forselectively controlling the flow of fluid to said unloading fluid pistonand cylinder assembly.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising means for incrementally supplying fluid to said rewind rollcounterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly during buildup, andwherein said control means comprises a first solenoid controlled fluidvalve for controlling the flow of fluid to said means for incrementallysupplying fluid, a second solenoid controlled fluid valve for connectingboth sides of the piston of said unloading fluid piston and cylinderassembly to a drain during buildup, a third solenoid controlled fluidvalve for controlling the flow of fluid to said unloading fluid pistonand cylinder assembly for moving said pair of rewind arms to theirunloading positions, a fourth solenoid controlled fluid valve forconnecting both sides of the piston of said counterbalance fluid pistonand cylinder assembly to a drain during movement of said rewind arms totheir unloading positions, a fifth solenoid controlled fluid valve tocontrol the flow of fluid to said counterbalance fluid piston andcylinder assembly for returning said counterbalance fluid piston andcylinder assembly to its original position.
 6. Apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said second arm is disposed at an angle of about 120*with respect to said first arm of said bracket mounted on said rewindarm support shaft.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rewindrolls move upwardly and outwardly with respect to the rewind machineduring buildup of the rewind rolls, and wherein the rewind arms aresubstantially horizontally outwardly disposed with respect to the rewindmachine when said rewind rolls are in their unloading position. 8.Apparatus for handling rewind rolls comprising a frame, a front sectionand a rear section, each of said sections having a rewind arm supportshaft carried by said frame, at least one pair of rewind arms mounted onsaid rewind arm support shaft, each rewind arm being mounted on saidshaft at its inner end, means carried by each pair of said rewind armsat their outer ends for receiving a strip of sheet material to be woundinto a rewind roll, a bracket fixedly mounted on said rewind arm supportshaft, said bracket having a first arm and a second arm disposed at anangle of about 120* with respect to said first arm, a rewind rollcounterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly having one end mountedon said frame, a piston rod extending from the other end of said fluidpiston and cylinder assembly and being pivotally attached to said firstarm, a rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly havingone end mounted on said frame, a piston rod extending from the other endof said rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly, andbeing pivotally attached to said second arm, control means includingsolenoid operated fluid valve means operatively connected to said rewindarms, said rewind roll counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assemblyand said rewind roll unloading fluid piston and cylinder assembly tocontrol the rewind roll for pivoting during buildup under the control ofsaid rewind roll counterbalance fluid piston and cylinder assembly andthence to their unloading positions wherein the rewind arms extendsubstantially horizontally outwardly with respect to the center of themachine under the control of said rewind roll unloading fluid piston andcylinder assembly, a waiting truck positionable adjacent the rewindrolls unloading positions, said truck being drivable on a roadwaydisposed perpendicular to the machine.